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Lib Dems press Welsh Government on ambulance waiting times

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THE WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have intensified their criticism of the Labour Government over shockingly long ambulance waiting times in Wales. During Wales Questions in the House of Commons, Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick highlighted a harrowing case from his constituency, underscoring the dire state of emergency healthcare in Wales.

An 82-year-old man was forced to drive his wife, who had suffered a stroke, from Rhayader to Hereford—over an hour and 15 minutes away on winding, poorly maintained country roads—while she was paralysed and vomiting, unable to receive any immediate medical assistance. The family was left with no choice after waiting two hours for an ambulance and being informed that the wait could extend another 4–7 hours.

Chadwick described the delays as “abysmal” but, unfortunately, not uncommon in border communities across Wales. He called on both the UK and Welsh governments to take urgent action to address ambulance delays, emphasizing that a crisis in social care was exacerbating the problem.

RECENT FIGURES HIGHLIGHT GROWING CHALLENGES

Recent NHS Wales data reveals that in 2024, response times for Category 1 (life-threatening) calls remain below the target of 65% being answered within eight minutes. In some areas, fewer than 50% of such calls are met within this critical window. Furthermore, figures show that average ambulance waiting times have reached nearly six hours in parts of rural Wales, leaving patients in vulnerable situations.

Hospital congestion is one of the primary causes of the delays. Ambulances are frequently left queuing for hours outside hospitals like Hereford and Glangwili, as wards remain full due to patients who cannot be discharged without adequate social care arrangements. Care Forum Wales has warned that the ongoing social care funding crisis could collapse the system entirely, leaving a £150 million shortfall after changes in funding announced by Labour in the UK Government Budget.

STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES IN WALES

The geography of Wales presents unique challenges for healthcare provision. Vast rural areas, coupled with poor road infrastructure, mean that emergency services often struggle to reach patients quickly. In 2024, Powys—one of the most rural counties in Wales—saw ambulance response times among the worst in the country.

Moreover, staff shortages across the NHS and social care sectors are contributing to the strain. Healthcare workers are reportedly leaving the industry due to burnout, low pay, and the increasing complexity of their roles. Many social care providers have also expressed concern that the Labour Government’s decision to increase national insurance for care providers risks making an already precarious situation worse, potentially leading to more closures of care homes and services.

CALLS FOR ACTION

David Chadwick reiterated his concerns, saying: “Residents across Powys and right across Wales are enduring unacceptably long waits for ambulances in moments of crisis. A 7-hour wait is no longer a rare occurrence—it’s a damning indictment of how stretched our emergency services have become.

“Our hardworking healthcare professionals are doing everything they can under incredibly tough circumstances, but they need support. Labour’s policy of increasing national insurance for social care providers risks making the situation at A&Es worse by leading to more blocked hospital beds and further delays in ambulances being able to respond to emergencies.

“Social care is a critical part of the solution to easing pressures on hospitals and ambulance services. Without urgent action to address these systemic issues, residents will continue to face unacceptable risks. I will keep fighting for my constituents to ensure that no one is left without care during their time of need.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for a reversal of the national insurance rise for social care providers, increased investment in both NHS Wales and the social care system, and improved road infrastructure in rural communities to ensure emergency services can reach patients more efficiently.

A SYSTEM UNDER STRAIN

The challenges facing Wales’s healthcare system are deeply rooted and multifaceted. While ambulance waiting times are a visible symptom of the crisis, addressing the underlying causes—such as social care shortages, funding deficits, and rural infrastructure—will require coordinated action between the Welsh and UK governments. Without such efforts, the risks to patients across Wales will continue to grow.

Charity

Women take on Three Peaks Challenge to support mental health services

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TEN inspirational women are set to tackle the iconic National Three Peaks Challenge on June 7, 2025, to raise vital funds for PATH – Pembrokeshire Action for the Homeless.

Motivated by the support they received through free counselling provided by Pathway Counselling, these women are embarking on this ambitious challenge to help fund mental health services offered by the charity.

The gruelling challenge, organised by Lucy Brazier with the support of Aspire Fitness and Charlotte Neill, will see the group climb the three highest peaks in the UK – Ben Nevis in Scotland (1,345m), Scafell Pike in England (978m), and Snowdon in Wales (1,085m) – all within a 24-hour timeframe. In total, the event involves 23 miles of walking and 450 miles of driving between the mountains.

Lucy Brazier, the organiser, expressed the group’s determination to succeed in this challenge, stating: “We are doing this to give back to the services that helped us through difficult times. Mental health support is crucial, and we hope our efforts will make a difference to others who need help.”

The challenge is not just a test of physical endurance but also a significant fundraising effort. Donations can be made through the group’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/page/nationalthreepeaks.

PATH has been instrumental in supporting individuals struggling with homelessness and mental health issues across Pembrokeshire. The funds raised will ensure the continuation of essential services that positively impact lives.

The team is calling on the community to rally behind them and support their mission. Every donation, no matter how small, will help them reach their goal and make a difference.

For more updates on the challenge and to show your support, visit the JustGiving page and follow PATH’s social media channels.

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Health

Welsh Government ‘utterly failing’ on waiting lists

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PLAID CYMRU has called for action to tackle the NHS backlog, accusing Labour of “utterly failing” and leaving more than 620,000 people languishing on long waiting lists.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, the party’s shadow health secretary, warned waiting lists have hit record highs in every month since March, including each month of the First Minister’s time in office.

He said: “And what’s been the response of this [Welsh] Government? Firstly, to blame everybody else: blame the patients, blame health managers, blame royal colleges, blame everybody and deny responsibility.

“After 25 years of governing, they decided to go on a listening exercise and hear people telling them what they should have known years ago.

“Then, each month leading up to Christmas, a new strategy was put in place, and each month, the numbers on waiting lists were increasing.”

Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s health, social care and housing spokesperson

Leading a Plaid Cymru debate, Mr ap Gwynfor pointed to his party’s five-point plan to tackle NHS waiting lists which was unveiled this week.

His colleague Sioned Williams raised the “alarming” rise of the use of private health care, warning deep-rooted inequalities are becoming increasingly stark.

Accusing Labour of eroding Aneurin Bevan’s vision for the NHS, she said statistics show a 77% rise in admissions to private hospitals in Wales over five years.

Ms Williams added: “58% of Welsh people have either accessed private health care or know friends or family who have done so, which is higher than the UK average.”

Llŷr Gruffydd, a fellow Plaid Cymru Senedd Member, said: “Now, the situation in north Wales, in my region, is frightening, if I’m honest…. There is a whole generation of children and young people with conditions such as ADHD and autism being let down.”

James Evans, the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary, warned the NHS is in crisis, with more than 23,000 people waiting at least two years for treatment.

“This isn’t just inefficiency,” he said. “It’s a symptom of a deeper problem and the chronic underfunding and neglect of our social care system.”

Mr Evans called for an independent review of NHS Wales to “fix a system that has been broken by years of Labour mismanagement”.

Conservative MS James Evans
Conservative shadow health secretary James Evans

Russell George, who chairs the Senedd’s health committee, raised concerns about Powys health board’s “ridiculous” proposals to balance its books.

The Tory said: “In Shrewsbury or Telford hospital, a Welsh patient could be sitting talking to a consultant and the consultant tells them, ‘We’ve got capacity to see you. We would see you if you were an English patient but we’re not able to because Powys is not able to pay.’”

Labour’s Buffy Williams said years of chronic underfunding from successive Conservative UK Governments has been catastrophic for the Welsh NHS.

Jeremy Miles, who was appointed health secretary in September, pointed to signs of progress on the Welsh Government’s priority of reducing the longest waiting times.

Health secretary Jeremy Miles
Health secretary Jeremy Miles

He told the Senedd the number of people waiting more than two years has reduced by two thirds since 2022, with 3% waiting at least two years compared with 10% at the peak.

Mr Miles said: “The health service is making progress despite the increasing demands upon it but there is much more to be done in order to ensure that people are treated sooner.”

Following the debate on January 15, Senedd Members voted 39-11 against the Plaid Cymru motion before the Welsh Government’s amended version was agreed, 26-24.

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Health

Senedd Members criticise ‘appalling’ cancer delays

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SENEDD Members quizzed Wales’ health secretary after a damning report revealed “alarming” shortcomings in cancer services, including a lack of leadership.

James Evans, the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary, said this week’s Audit Wales report laid bare chronic mismanagement of cancer services.

Questioning his opposite number Jeremy Miles, Mr Evans told the Senedd: “This failure has caused widespread confusion and inefficiencies in patient care.

“Despite a staggering 54% real-terms increase in spending on cancer services over the past 13 years, the NHS in Wales continues to miss the target for starting cancer treatment.

“Leadership failures have resulted in shocking delays for patients, with some waiting over 100 days to begin treatment. These delays exacerbate anxiety and lead to poorer survival rates, which are already worse in Wales than any other nation across the UK.”

Conservative MS James Evans
Conservative MS James Evans

He urged the Welsh Government to fix a leadership vacuum, dismantle bureaucratic silos and ensure patients no longer face appalling delays that cost lives.

Mr Miles welcomed the report, recognising the picture painted by the auditor general that too many people are waiting too long for treatments they should be getting faster.

The health secretary said: “It is true to say for a number of cancers in a number of parts of Wales those targets are being met and sometimes being exceeded quite significantly.

“But the overall picture, I accept, is that targets are not being met.”

Mr Evans, who represents Brecon and Radnorshire, warned of workforce planning failures, severe staff shortages, over-reliance on agencies, and recruitment and retention problems.

He said: “These staff shortages are directly delaying cancer diagnosis and treatment, worsening outcomes for patients.

“Despite repeated warnings from organisations like the Wales Cancer Alliance, the Welsh Government has failed to deliver a comprehensive workforce strategy.”

Mr Miles pointed to a 27% increase in workforce numbers, adding that Wales is not the only country to have difficulty recruiting to certain disciplines such as radiology.

The health secretary agreed about the “unsustainable” reliance on agency staff.

Mr Evans added: “There is becoming an outrage in the public about the ballooning number of managers across the NHS compared to frontline health care providers.”

He suggested overall increases in the workforce – from 72,000 to 91,000 between 2014 and 2023 – have not addressed frontline clinical shortages.

“Shockingly, administrative and estate staff have increased by 51% in that time,” he said.

Mr Evans asked: “After 26 years, how can the Labour Welsh Government justify the bloated expansion of administrative roles while patients face unacceptable delays for treatment due to a lack of frontline staff?”

Mr Miles replied: “The member makes an easy point, and a populist point, but the truth is a complex healthcare system requires people who are competent….

“There has been an increase in recruitment to the NHS across all disciplines and all important roles which enable the NHS to be effectively run.”

He added: “A world view which suggests that managers and those running the NHS simply should be taken out of the system, I think, is a very naive perspective.”

Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor
Plaid Cymru MS Mabon ap Gwynfor

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s shadow health secretary, also led on the scathing Audit Wales report during health questions on January 15.

He urged the minister to back his party’s proposed reforms of NHS governance.

Mr Miles said November’s report “echoed” a statement he gave in the Senedd and a speech he made two weeks earlier.

He told the chamber: “I was very pleased to see the kind of fresh thinking I was seeking to bring to the challenges which we face was agreed to by Plaid Cymru.

“And I see the same thing in the plan that was published … yesterday in relation to tackling waiting lists.”

Mr ap Gwynfor hit back: “That’s a disappointing response because you seem to be in complete denial about the problems in the health service.”

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd Senedd Member called for a guarantee that a target for 80% of all cancer patients to receive treatment within 62 days by March 2026 will be met.

He warned that the quality and accessibility of health data is “not up to scratch”, with Public Health Wales “fundamentally hamstrung” in its ability to project future demand for services.

He said: “The Wales cancer registry is meant to provide timely data on cancer incidence … but it hasn’t published validated cancer data since 2021, shamefully this means Wales can’t fully take part in essential national cancer audits … nor global studies.”

Mr Miles replied: “We have actually improved the publicly available data and we publish on a monthly basis about 18 pages of cancer treatment statistics, so that they can be scrutinised.

“We do want to improve transparency further.”

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